Thread holder and cutter for sewing-machines.



THREAD HOLDE NO MODEL.

PATENTED 00T. 4, 1904.

0. D. MATTHEWS.

R AND GUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 4, 1903.

Amm/vf ys 'UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. MATTHEWS, OF NEV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MORRIS STERN, OF NEV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

THREAD HOLDER AND CUTTER FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,434, dated October 4, 1904.

Application led August 4, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Thread Holder and Cutter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device applied to the presser-foot of a sewing-machine for holding the end of needle-thread and for cutting off the same after the stitch hasbeen finished. It is here illustrated in the form of an attachment to the presser-foot; but it may be formed as an integral part thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The device comprises a spring-tongue serving to hold the thread against the presserfoot and against which the blade is drawn to cut the thread. As here shown, the tongue and blade are formed of an integral piece of sheet metal andl are connected to a clamp which embraces and is secured on the presser-foot.

This specification is a specific form of one form of my invention, while the claims define the exact scope of the invention.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the invention applied to a sewing-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the presser-foot with my invention applied. Fig. 3 is asimilar view, excepting that the thread is shown about to engage the knife. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the device. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

a indicates the presser-foot, and a the needle-orifice thereof.

I) indicates the spring-tongue forming a thread-holder which lies in the needle-orifice and serves to pinch the thread against one wall of said orifice. I

c indicates the blade or cutter, which, as here shown, is Y indicated with the springtongue b, this blade lying under the presser- Serial No. 168,229. (No model.)

foot at the front end thereof. A tang (Z projects from the tongue and blade c and curves leftward and thence rearward at the left-hand side of the presser-foot, where it is attached to the presser-foot by means of a clamp e, which lies over the top of the presserfoot and has a forward and rearward extension d extending under the same. f indicates a set-screw for holding the clamp on the presser-foot, and Z2 indicates a lateral extension, which turns downward and under the right-hand edge of the presser-foot. By means of a clamp of this construction the pinching-tongue and cutting-blade may be secured rigidly, yet removably, to the presserfoot. This enables the device to be attached to machines of any make.

In the use of the invention the end of the thread is drawn between the spring-tongue and the adjacent wall of the needle-orifice a of the presser-foot in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus holding the end of the thread securely. The goods to be sewed may then be inserted -into the machine and the ma- .chine started without necessitating manually holding the end of the thread, as has been customary heretofore. After the seam has been completed it is only necessary to draw the goods forward from under the presserfoot. This will bring the thread against the blade c and sever the same, meanwhile holding the machine end of the thread between the tongue and the presser-foot, so that the machine is ready at all times to be started without necessitating the manipulation of the thread in any way.

Not only does this device provide means for eifectively holding the thread and for cutting off the same, thus saving much time and labor on the' part of the operator, but it also by cutting the thread close to the fabric being sewed saves a considerable amount of the thread, thus making the operation of the sewing-machine more economical than under the old manner of operation.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I consider myself entitled to all such variations as may lie within the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentd l. The combination withasewing-machine presser-foot having a slot therein forming the needle-orifice, of a spring-tongue lying in said slot and pressing laterally against one wall thereof, a blade attached to the tongue and lying under the presser-foot, and means for mounting the tongue and blade on thc presser-foot.

2. The combination with a sewing-machine presser-foot having a slot therein forming the needle-orifice, of a spring-tongue lying vertically in the slot' and pressing laterally against one of the side walls thereof, means for mounting,1 the tongue in place, and a blade carried by the lower edge of the spring-tongue and projecting horizontally, for the purpose specified.

3. A thread holder and cutter for sewingmachines, com prising a spring-tongue adapted to bear against the presser-foot of the sewingmachine, a blade carried by the tongue and projecting sidewise therefrom, and a clamp to which the tongue is fastened and by which to mount the tongue and blade on the presserfoot of the machine, said clamp comprisinga body adapted to lie on top of the presserfoot, and having a portion extending rearward and downward to lie under the rear end of the presser-foot, and also having a lateral eXtension projected downward to engage one side edge of the presser-foot, and a screw working in the body ofthe clamp to engage the presserfoot.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES D. MATTHEWS. 

